New York City | The Guggenheim

The Guggenheim Museum on 5th Avenue opened its doors to the public in 1959 and was the recipient of mixed reactions – curiosity, admiration and even scorn. Today, the Guggenheim is recognised as one of the greatest architectural accomplishments of the twentieth century.

Art Deco splendour

The rotunda was closed on the day of my visit, but there was still a lot to see. I particularly enjoyed A Year with Children 2019, a gorgeous display of art by local NYC school children.

Look up

I also saw Implicit Tensions: Mapplethorpe Now, an exhibition of iconic photographs by Robert Mapplethorpe. If I tell you that Mapplethorpe was a gay man with an interest (for want of a better word) in S&M, you’ll realise this is not an exhibition for anyone easily offended by its mature content.

Self portrait of Robert Mapplethorpe

In 1943, the museum’s first director, Hilla Rebay, told the museum’s architect, Frank Lloyd Wright, that she wanted “a temple of spirit, a monument” … I think he achieved that.

I think the art of children would be such a fun exhibition to wander through – I bet there were lots of WOW moments as to their insight, creativity & wonder of creating both in colour & subject matter.